Psychology Chapter on Sensation and Perception

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What is the primary purpose of transduction in sensory systems?

To filter out irrelevant sensory information
To interpret sensory signals into conscious experience
To transform physical stimuli into neural impulses (correct)
To enhance the stimulus energy received by the sensory organs

How do bottom-up and top-down processing differ in the context of perception?

Bottom-up processing relies on prior knowledge, while top-down processing does not
Bottom-up processing starts with sensory input, while top-down processing uses existing knowledge (correct)
Top-down processing is unconscious while bottom-up processing is conscious
Both processes result in the same perception outcomes

What does the concept of absolute threshold refer to?

The minimal intensity needed to just barely detect a stimulus (correct)
The variable intensity of a stimulus perceived by different individuals
The highest intensity of a stimulus that can be detected
The average intensity at which stimuli can be perceived

What role does attention play in the process of perception?

It helps select certain information for further processing (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the difference threshold refer to?

The minimum difference between stimuli that can be detected (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the field of psychophysics?

An investigation of the relationship between physical events and conscious experience (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to Weber's Law, how must two stimuli differ for them to be perceived as different?

By a minimum percentage (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why might children perceive different images than adults when looking at vague shapes or forms?

Children have less knowledge which reduces top-down processing reliance (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of how psychophysics relates physical energy to psychological experience?

Sugar concentration corresponds to the level of sweetness perceived (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is sensory adaptation?

The decline in sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is selective attention responsible for?

Filtering and prioritizing sensory information for consciousness (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon illustrates the difference between perception and reality?

The interpretive nature of perception (C) Signup and view all the answers

Inattentional blindness occurs when?

Attention is concentrated on one object or task (C) Signup and view all the answers

Change blindness is best described as?

Failing to notice visual details in a focused scene (D) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage difference is required for perceiving a change in light stimuli according to Weber's Law?

8% (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the role of our sensory systems?

They provide more information than our conscious awareness can handle (A) Signup and view all the answers

What determines the perceived brightness of a light wave?

Intensity (D) Signup and view all the answers

How is wavelength defined in terms of a light wave?

Distance from the peak of one wave to the peak of the next (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the eye acts as the main lens to focus light?

Lens (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the fovea in the visual system?

To provide the highest visual acuity (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of visual issue can occur if accommodation is impaired?

Nearsightedness (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the trichromatic theory suggest about the eye's cone receptors?

The eye contains three types of cones sensitive to red, blue, and green. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which cells are responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain?

Ganglion cells (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the optic nerve?

To carry visual impulses to the brain (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which visual pathway is responsible for the identification of objects?

What pathway (C) Signup and view all the answers

What condition describes the inability to recognize objects by sight?

Visual form agnosia (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the area with no receptor cells in the eye?

Blind spot (C) Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon allows us to perceive objects as constant despite changes in lighting?

Color constancy (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a correct definition of depth perception?

Ability to judge how far away an object is. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of binocular disparity in depth perception?

It provides information about depth based on retinal images from two eyes. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which concept explains our perception of objects being the same size despite distance variation?

Size constancy (B) Signup and view all the answers

How do Gestalt principles impact our perception?

They provide simple grouping rules that help construct perceptions. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the cue of interposition indicate about two overlapping objects?

The blocking object is interpreted as being closer. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which cue involves the comparison of sizes to determine distance?

Relative Size (A) Signup and view all the answers

What effect does linear perspective have on the perception of distance?

It suggests that parallel lines converge as they recede into the distance. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the relative height cue influence our perception of distance?

Objects nearer to the ground appear to be farther away. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between pitch and frequency in sound waves?

Pitch is related to the frequency of a sound, with low frequency being low pitch. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does sound complexity refer to in wave characteristics?

The mix of frequencies and amplitude changes in a sound. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the ear amplifies sound vibrations between the eardrum and the cochlea?

Middle Ear (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does intensity in sound waves refer to?

The energy in a wave related to perceived loudness. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role does the cochlea play in hearing?

It contains the auditory receptors known as hair cells. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How do large amplitude sound waves affect the basilar membrane?

They cause a greater number of hair cells to send signals to the brain. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is referred to as sensorineural hearing loss?

Hearing loss caused by loud sounds damaging hair cells. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary assumption of the Gate-Control Theory?

Neurons in the spinal cord can block or transmit pain signals. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes how the brain perceives pitch using the Place Code?

It analyzes which neurons are activated along the basilar membrane. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How do intensity differences assist in sound localization?

They allow the head to act as a shadow or barrier to sounds. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of sensory receptors provide signals interpreted as pain?

Nociceptors (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the function of hair cells within the cochlea?

They convert sound waves into electrical signals. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Sensation

The process of turning stimulus energy from our senses into neural signals.

Perception

Organizing, identifying, and interpreting sensory information to create mental images of the world.